Birds
Darwin's finches
Geospiza spp.Conservation statusMost are Least Concern
DietSeeds, insects, nectar and fruit, depending on the species
Lifespan10-15 years
Size and weight10-20 cm, depending on the species
Small songbirds, brown to black, that differ mainly in the shape of their bills.
Bill shapes
What makes it specialThey all come from one ancestor species. It split into new species, following the kind of food on each island.
Surprising factThe woodpecker finch uses a thorn as a tool to pull larvae (young insects) out of tree bark.
PopulationAbout 18 species and millions of birds, all endemic: they live nowhere else in the world. The mangrove finch is down to only about a hundred birds.
Everywhere, from the coast to the highlands